BROOKINGS INDIA
Development Seminar | Smallpox Eradication: Inclusive histories as meaningful roadmaps for Global Health
Monday, April 15th, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pmBrookings India, No. 6, Second Floor, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
Dear Mr. Singh,
I am delighted to invite you for our next development seminar on "Smallpox Eradication: Inclusive histories as meaningful roadmaps for Global Health” with Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Professor in the History of Medicine, Director of the Centre for Global Health Histories and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Health Histories, University of York.
Abstract: How was smallpox eradicated worldwide? National experiences of the development of the smallpox vaccine and eradication campaigns varied widely in structure and impact. These were brought together with the help of local actors to create an international fight against the disease. That battle was won, step-by-step with the help of relevant strategic knowledge that was collected and used to create a range of different qualitative projects. Through this endeavour, what emerged was that the knowledge of the political, social, economic and cultural factors was as important as science and technology. These learnings could have resulted in an eradication programme that could have provided democratic models for future global health initiatives. Instead, narrow sets of institutional histories that honoured the voices and actions of a small number of people were created and advocated, which distorted the past and were used as working models for the future. This presentation discusses why it is important to question and challenge these trends.
Bio: Sanjoy Bhattacharya is Director of the History Department’s Centre for Global Health Histories, Professor in the History of Medicine, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and the Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Health Histories (based at the University of York). Sanjoy specialises in the health, medical, environmental, political and social history of nineteenth and twentieth century South Asia, as well as the history and contemporary workings of international and global health programmes around the world. He has a BA from St Stephen's College, University of Delhi, an MA from Jawaharlal Nehru University and a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Discussants:
Devendra Khandait, Deputy Director and Country Lead, State Health Systems, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (India)
Anjali Nayyar, Executive Vice President for Global Health Strategies (GHS)
Please RSVP ngupta@brookingsindia.org and contact and zkazmi@brookingsindia.org for media inquiries.
My Best,
Shamika Ravi
Dr. Shamika Ravi
Research Director, Brookings India
Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
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